After missing the last four games, linebacker Brandon Bell made his presence known in his return to the field on Saturday during Penn State’s 24-21 upset over previously second-ranked Ohio State, not just to his teammates but throughout college football. The linebacker was recognized by the Maxwell Football Club on Thursday morning as the Bednarik Award Player of the Week, an award given to the best defensive player in the country each week.

Earlier this week, Bell was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Just two days after his first full practice in over a month, Bell recorded 19 tackles (five of which came in the decisive fourth quarter) and a sack to help the Nittany Lions defense stymie the electric Buckeye offense, who had averaged 49 points and over 500 yards of offense per game going into Saturday’s matchup.

Bell left the 42-39 loss to Pitt in the second half and had not played since then. Getting Bell back in the lineup was key for Penn State. In the two games this season that Bell has played start-to-finish for the Nittany Lions, Penn State has allowed 13 and 21 points respectively compared to the average of 31.6 points per game that they allowed in the other five games.